March rain put an end to extreme drought in Portugal
At the end of March, a large part of the territory is in the moderate drought class, while part of the North and South interior proposes severe drought.
Mainland Portugal registered at the end of March an amelioration of the meteorological drought situation throughout the territory, leaving the regions in extreme drought, according to the latest climate report from the IPMA.
At the end of March, 81.7% of mainland Portugal was in moderate drought, 15.9% in severe drought and 2.4% in mild drought, according to the drought meteorological index (PDSI) available today on the website. of the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA).
These values contrast with the situation selected at the end of February, in which more than 60% of mainland Portugal was in extreme drought and 29.3% in severe drought.
According to the IPMA, at the end of March, a large part of the territory is in the moderate drought class, while part of the North interior and South coast presented severe drought.
The institute classifies the meteorological drought index into nine classes, which varies between “extreme rain” and “extreme drought”.
According to the IPMA, there are four types of drought: meteorological, agricultural, hydrological and socioeconomic.
Meteorological drought is directly linked to the determination, when it occurs below normal.
In addition to the drought index, the IPMA Climatological Bulletin indicates that the month of March was presented as normal in terms of air temperature and rainfall in terms of the forecast.
According to the wettest month of 2000, March was the wettest month of 2000, with the average value of the amount of 6 IPMA (102.5 mm) higher than the normal value 1-2000.
During the period of March, according to the report and the month of period from 20 to 24 in the Center and South regions.
The institute points out that in some places in the South region, the total for March is about three times the average value.
The IPMA explains that at the end of March there was an increase in soil water in almost the entire region, being more significant in the southern region.
“In the Northeast region of Trás-os-Montes and Beira, the recovery was not significant and the values remained below 20%, with places in these permanent regions reaching some wilting points”, is highlighted in the report.
As for temperatures, the average value of the minimum air (7.43 degrees Celsius) was higher than the normal value and the average value of the maximum (16.32 degrees) was lower than normal.
The lowest value of the minimum temperature on the continent was recorded on the 07th in Alvega, district of Santarém, (-3.9 degrees Celsius) and the highest value of the maximum (25.5 degrees) in Monção (Viana do Castelo) on 24 December. March .